1940-1950
Roland S Ball (Ernie) gigs around LA with Tommy Duncan band LA(1949-1950). At this time the name "Roland" was not suitable for stage use and the name "Ernie" was given by his bandmates.
1953
While Ernie was in Arizona he heard about the radio repairman named Leo Fender who was making solid body electric guitars and steel guitars. Ernie took leave, drove to Fullerton and he and Leo hit it off. Ernie thought this was the best thing he had seen. From there he beta-tested for Leo and became an endorsee.
1954-1955
Ernie Ball opens up a teaching studio, giving guitar lessons to aspiring players. It is through teaching these young students that he notices the difficulty of bending strings and fingering guitar chords with the thicker gauge strings.
1958
In the mid 1950's Ernie opened what was the first electric guitar store in the world. Never accepting the first forms of change, people warned him that he would go broke. Though he did just that many times, first and foremost Ernie always paid his bills. Finally in 1958 things started to turn around.
1960s
Ernie Ball's first catalog introduces a mail order program for custom strings, further revolutionizing the MI retail world.
Rock-n-roll guitar accessories quickly became a focal point, further cementing Ernie's involvement in a rapidly growing industry.
1962
Ernie Ball pioneers custom string gauges for worldwide touring musicians and the Slinky line is officially born.
Merle Travis and The Ventures become some of the first artists to use Ernie Ball Slinkys.
Mid 1960s
Ernie Ball selling guitar strings in his Tarzana, CA guitar shop.
1967
Ernie Ball advertises in the first edition of Guitar Player magazine, starting what has evolved into a 40+ year working relationship of effective and creative advertising.
1966-1967
In the mid/late 1960's the British Blues Invasion hits America. London supergroup Cream, featuring Eric Clapton, is one of the first groups to order custom gauge slinkys.
The Byrds formed in 1964 featuring Graham Parsons, Clarence White, Roger McGuinn and David Crosby. In the mid-sixties, they become one of the first American rock bands to utilize Ernie Ball's custom gauge single strings. Ernie's guitar shop is located in Tarzana, CA, not far from the village of Laurel Canyon, which is the mecca for aspiring California's rock music movement.
Rolling Stone's guitarist Keith Richards finds Ernie Ball custom gauge strings on one of their early tours throughout America. Keith has used Ernie Ball strings as his "tools of the trade" for more than 40 years.
Jimi Hendrix, unknown in the US at the time, heads to England to form a rock group. Among many others, Jimi meets Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards while he is in the UK. Jimi hears of Ernie Ball lighter gauge strings and subsequently seeks them out on his trips back to the US.
1967
Ernie Ball closes the retail store and moves to Newport Beach, CA to concentrate on the string and accessories business. Ernie also had a vision of working part-time, surfing and flying airplanes. However, the guitar business took a new and heightened direction and things would never be the same.
Late 1960s
Vibrant Slinky colors on display at Namm in the late 1960's. At this early stage, the Slinky strings were offered in numerous gauge combinations that are still the industry standard today. Slinky Strings from this era are now packaged and sold under the classic "Slinky" moniker, and revered for their rich warm tone.
Early 1970s
The first Guitar Center music store in 1971, receiving an Ernie Ball shipment for a local Hollywood promotion. Now with 200 stores nationwide, Guitar Center and Ernie Ball continue to work together on many promotions giving unsigned musicians the opportunity to perform live on concert stages thoughout the world.
In the early 1970's Nickel Plated Steel Slinkys hit the market, which has since become the industry standard for rock-n'-roll electric guitar players. The EB day-glo packaging continued to drive sales and catch the eyes of players across the globe.
1970s
Led Zeppelin, the supergroup formed by Yardbirds member Jimmy Page, releases their 3rd album in 1970. By this time the band was roaring ahead on all cylinders powered by Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings.
Jeff Beck: Another former Yardbird who has remained one of the world's most dynamic and influential instrumental artists. For many decades Ernie Ball strings have been a staple for Jeff, both in the studio and on stage.
The Who's Pete Townshend has been using Ernie Ball strings for more than three decades. Primarily a rhythm guitarist, Pete's custom gauge set is heavier than most at gauges 11-52.
1972
Earthwood manufacturing delivers first Earthwood bass to customer. Ernie Ball and George Fullerton with a host of ex-fender employees stop for a photo op outside the facility on Ohms Way, Costa Mesa, CA.
The Earthwood bass was popular thanks to its thick sound and huge projection. Earthwood acoustic basses were limited to an original production run from 1972 onward, and a few basses made in the SLO factory in the early 80's.
1970s
Sterling Ball was involved with the family business at the early age of 9 years old. Running cash registers and packaging strings, he worked part-time after school and on weekends. Being part of a very musical family, Sterling picked up the bass and guitar early on, and was involved with many bands around the LA area. This early musical adaptation led to a life-long career in the music business, most notably working as a beta-tester for Leo Fender's new bass, the Music Man StingRay.
1973
Ernie and Sterling Ball at an early trade show, shortly after Sterling joined the Ernie Ball team as traveling road rep and inside sales manager. Although Sterling had been involved in the family business for years, it is in early 1973 that he decides to fully throw himself into the evolving company. Sterling says to the inside sales manager at the time “Give me a month, a gas card and that old Chevy out in the parking lot that's not being used, pay me only on what I sell and if it isn't worth it, then fire me.” Needless to say, Sterling went on to set record sales that year and hasn't looked back since.
Mid 1970s
Ernie Ball's passion for vintage cars was very evident at many NAMM shows. In the 70's Ernie Ball was one of the first manufacturers who added an element of fun and goodwill by dressing up the booth to include costumes, props and nostalgia. Sterling and Ernie take time out for a photo inside the Ernie Ball booth during a 1970's NAMM Show.
Late 1970s
Ernie Ball, Tom Walker, David Ball at NAMM. Ernie and Tom Walker met early on when Tom was the west coast Fender sales rep calling on Ernie's guitar shop. They became great friends and Tom Walker was asked to be the godfather of Sterling Ball. In the early 70's Tom designed a new preamp circuit that would eventully become a new line of amplifiers for the Music Man company. Founded by Tom Walker, Leo Fender and Forest White in 1972, the Music Man company was eventully bought by Ernie Ball in 1984.
1979
Ernie Ball moves corporate headquarters to San Luis Obispo,CA. The string and Earthwood facilities are packed up on their way to a new home in March 1979.
Early 1980's
Earthwood Mandolin prototype made at the new manufacturing plant on Tank Farm road. This is one of about a dozen made in the early 80's.The mandolin project never really got off the ground, as the Earthwood series acoustic instruments we discontinued shortly thereafter.
1984
Ernie Ball purchases Music Man's remaining assets from Tom Walker. Music Man instruments continue to be built in the San Luis Obispo, CA factory to this day.
1984-1985
Ernie Ball R.P.S.(Reinforced Plain Strings) Slinkys enter the market and quickly become an artist favorite. RPS strings feature an extra wrapping of brass around the ball end of the string for added strength and stability.
Ernie Ball designs new manufacturing plant built from the ground up at the 151 Suburban Rd San Luis Obispo, CA location.
1986
Ernie Ball Inc. once again begins to revolutionize the guitar accessory market with the introduction of their early t-shirt designs. EB t-shirts have since gained a cult-like following and can be spotted in all corners of the globe.
1988
Ernie Ball-Music Man San Luis Obispo Operation in 1988. Housed at 151 Suburban Rd, the Ernie Ball string plant shared the same building with the Music Man instrument manufacturing facilty.
Early 1990s
Ernie Ball changes bass string packaging to match the Slinky day-glo theme.
In the early nineties, Red Hot Chili Peppers bass player Flea had begun cementing his status as a bass-playing icon, powering his signature sound with the ultra responsive Slinky Bass sets. Flea is pictured here in an early nineties Slinky Bass String advertisement.
1990
Eddie Van Halen signature string sets are introduced. Shortly after a string association was developed, Ernie Ball/Music Man offered to make Eddie a new signature model guitar. The new guitar debuted in 1991 and lasted until the mid-nineties. The guitars and string sets are now collector items, fetching a premium price on the vintage market.
1993
Jimmy Page Slinky/Earthwood Ad from 1993. The Coverdale/Page CD was just released and Ernie Ball was excited to promote the ongoing relationship with the Led Zeppelin guitarist. Jimmy has been an avid user of Slinky strings since 1970, and continues to be a valued member of the Ernie Ball family to this day.
1995
Ernieball.com is one of the first music web sites to make it's mark on the internet.
1996
Soundgarden's 1996 "Down on the Upside" release went to #2 on the Billboard charts and was certified Platinum later in the year. Original guitarist Kim Thayil was featured in an Ernie Ball advert to promote his new CD and long-time association with Ernie Ball strings.
Slash has been a endorser of Ernie Ball products for more than two decades. Here Sterling And Slash talk shop at a winter NAMM Show during the Mid 90's.
1997
The very first Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands at the San Francisco Warped Tour stop. The Battle of The Bands 1 has 18 stops in its first year and develops into a long-lasting relationship with Kevin Lyman and The Warped Tour.
1998
NAMM 1998 “The Wrestler”. 1998 was one of the first years the Ernie Ball NAMM Booth took on a specific theme. After the EB booth has earned numerous NAMM "Best Booth" awards, NAMM decides to call it "The Ernie Ball Award".
The Ernie Ball Bus makes its debut at an EB Open House. The bus went on to visit Music Man dealers across the U.S., bringing along with it tons of EB swag along with some amazing Music Man instruments for customers to try.
Ernie and Sterling Ball sign the first production bass in the new state-of-the-art Music Man factory. The bass is now on display at the Musik-Meyer office building in Marburg, Germany. Musik-Meyer is one of Europe's leading distributors for musical instruments.
2000
Ernie Ball mobile stage (MS1) makes its debut. The mobile stage has become one of the most sought-after mobile venues around. Each year tens of thousands of concertgoers flock to see what new hot band is playing on the Ernie Ball Stage at The Warped Tour.
Ernie Ball unleashes new 7-String Slinky sets.
Ernie Ball releases the Audiophile bass amp and cabinet series. The Audiophile was designed for the tone-conscious connoisseur. 500 watts into 4 ohms, the Audiophile HD-500 delivers clean usable power with plenty of headroom. Sadly, the amp was discontinued after a couple of years on the market.
2002
New Acoustic Slinky packaging is introduced to the Phosphor Bronze line. Studio Phosphor Bronze acoustic strings are newly christened as "Slinky Acoustic".
2003
Ernie Ball Company relocates to Southern California's Coachella Valley.
2004
Graduating with a BA in marketing from Cal Poly University San Luis Obispo, Brian Ball joins the Ernie Ball Company full time. Continuing the tradition of creating the very best tools for working musicians, Brian recognizes the needs of the emerging market of younger guitarists seaching for optimal string combinations. Developing the Beefy and Not Even Slinky gauge strings were a perfect solution for players seeking thicker tone and correct tension for drop tunings so popular with today's modern music.
Beefy and Not Even sets join the Slinky lineup. Sensing the younger players needs for acheiving a thicker, chunkier tone, Brian Ball creates string sets optimal for modern tunings including D, drop D and C #. The thicker core and wrap combination of Beefy and Not Even Slinky's, increase the tension needed to keep strings playable at pitch.
September 9th 2004, Ernie Ball, founder of the company, passes away. One of the last great colorful entrepreneurs, he created products that helped shape the sound of rock-n-roll. Endless hit songs have been played on Ernie Ball Strings since the 1960's. Ernie's early philosphies and ideas can still be found in many industries today.
EB “Scion Tours" hit the US, visiting dealers and stopping at every road side attraction along the way. Dealers and end users alike are able to track the Scion's progress online with an up-to-the-minute website featuring blogs, photos and insight as to what the Scion team is up to.
2006
Ernie Ball Company moves into new 60,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Coachella, CA.
2008
New Coated Acoustic and Coated Electric Slinkys make their debut at the Summer NAMM show 2008. These new coated Slinky strings feature a titanium reinforcement around the ball end to prevent string breakage and enhance tuning stability.
New Element Shield packaging reveals itself in 2008. This state-of-the-art foil packaging resists humidity and keeps strings as fresh as the day they were made.
2009
One of the least desirable aspects of playing guitar is changing strings. In an effort to help alleviate this time consuming procedure, Ernie Ball introduced the motorized Power Peg in 2009. Seeing the difficulty in changing his own strings, Brian Ball envisioned a tool for musicians that speeds up the process while minimizing the manual discomforts of stringing by hand. The PowerPeg allows you to string your guitar up to 70% faster; eliminating fatigue and repetitive motion caused by most pegwinders and the manuel hand winding process. Compact and portable, the Ernie Ball PowerPeg is powered by 4 AA batteries and perfectly calibrated for easy operation.
source : Ernie Ball